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NORFOLK, Va. – The Howard University women's basketball team is looking to extend its two-game win streak in a key matchup with Norfolk State on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. in Echols Hall.
The two teams are currently battling for seeding in the upcoming 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament. Heading into Saturday, the Bison are ranked second with a 13-12 overall record and 9-4 mark in conference play, while the Spartans come in third at 14-12 overall and 9-5 in the MEAC.
LAST TIME OUT
Redshirt junior Erin Blaine poured in a team-high 19 points on an impressive 8-of-12 shooting to help Howard complete the season sweep of North Carolina Central with a 62-48 victory on Monday.
Redshirt senior Te'Shya Heslip also shot well (7-10) on her way to 14 points, six assists and five boards, while senior Sydni Johnson netted 10 points. Freshman Jayla Myles was a force on the glass as she pulled down 13 rebounds and earned a career-high seven blocks. Classmate Star Fitzgerald-Greer added six rebounds, five points and a career-best four rejections in 11 minutes of action.
Howard held NCCU to just 48 points, the fewest allowed by the Bison this season. The home team also finished the game with a season-high 12 blocks. HU was all over the glass for a 51-32 rebounding advantage.
SCOUTING NORFOLK STATE
The Spartans struggled in a 53-44 loss at Bethune-Cookman on Monday evening. The setback dropped Norfolk State down to third place in the MEAC standings, a half-game behind Howard. Gabrielle Swinson led the Spartans in scoring with 16 points and four steals, while Dominique Harper added 11 points.
Norfolk State ranks second in the MEAC in scoring offense at 62.4 points per game, while the Spartans allow the second-fewest points per contest at 56.5 points. They have the highest shooting percentage at 38.3 percent, and the second-best field goal defense at 32.6 percent.
SERIES HISTORY
The two programs have met 45 times on the hardwood, with Howard holding a 31-14 advantage. Both teams won on the other's home court last season, with Howard falling in overtime, 110-108, on Feb. 6 in Burr Gymnasium. The Bison returned the favor with a tight 64-63 victory at Echols Hall on Feb. 29. Saturday's outing is the only regular season meeting between the pair this time around.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
Heslip has been Howard's leader on both sides of the ball this season. She is averaging 3.6 steals, which puts her fifth among the nation's leaders. Her 91 total thefts ranks ninth and 5.1 assists is 44th. She leads the MEAC in steals and assists, while checking in at third in scoring with a team-high 15.0 points and fourth in free throw percentage (77.5).
MOVING ON UP
Johnson is currently riding a nine-game streak with 10-plus points, which has helped her move into 10th place in the MEAC rankings with 12.2 points per game. She is also fourth in field goal percentage at 42.6 percent. Blaine's 38.7 field goal percentage is good enough for 10th. Myles is getting in on the fun with 1.7 blocks per game, which stands seventh.
IT'S COLD IN THE BURR
Howard has been giving its opponent a tough time when they come to Burr Gymnasium. The Bison are 8-2 in its on-campus facility. Howard had won five straight games on its court before dropping its first conference game at home this season.
HOWARD IN THE MEAC
As a team, the Bison have the best scoring offense in the league, averaging 63.6 points per game. Howard also checks in at No. 2 in assists (12.6), third in free throw percentage (67.1), field goal percentage (37.5) and fifth in steals (9.2).
CHARITY STRIPE LIVING
The Bison have done a good job of making trips to the free throw line count. Howard is converting free throws at a 67.1 percent clip, making 340 of 507 attempts. The mark is currently third in the conference.
BISON IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Through 13 MEAC contests, Johnson, Heslip and Blaine are averaging double figures for Howard. In conference action, Johnson is putting up 14.4 ppg, followed by Heslip (13.5) and Blaine (11.5). Johnson is shooting a team-best 48.1 percent from the floor and Heslip is connecting on 76.3 percent (45-59) of her free throws. Blaine paces the team in rebounding (7.2).
